Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 09:27:08 -0800
From: Clare Howell
Subject: IYF-Gender Questioning Teen Suicide
MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org
GENDER-QUESTIONING TEEN SUICIDE IN CLEVELAND
============================================
[Cleveland, OH: 27 Mar 99] FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD NICOLE SEELY
identified as a boy. "She decided that her outside persona
was more like a boy," said her mother, Elaine. "She presented
this to the world and said, 'This is who I am.'"
The Cleveland News-Herald reports that, since 3rd
grade, Nicole had "gravitated toward masculinity" according
to her father, Greg. She wore short hair, boys' clothes, and
acted like a tomboy.
For defying gender norms so blatantly she paid the
price at school. Classmates taunted and ridiculed her. The
problems grew worse when she entered 8th grade. Life became
miserable for her.
"It wasn't just guys, it was girls too that were
harassing her," said her mother. Nicole kept her problems
to herself. Even school officials were unaware of the severity
of the situation. On 13 Oct 98 Nicole could take it no longer.
She killed herself using her father's .22 rifle.
"She pulled the trigger... because she felt it was
the only way she could escape the torment inflicted on her by
her classmates," said June Shiplett, a friend of the family.
"Every day she went to school was torture for her and she
didn't know how to stop it."
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GENERPAC INCORPORATES
=====================
[New York, NY: 27 Mar 99] GENDERPAC IS INCORPORATING AFTER
4 years as an association. Said Director of Operations
Carrie Davis, "It was time. We are starting to get serious
donation money. The organization has grown, and we are
heading toward 200 members."
GenderPAC is also applying for 501 tax-exempt status
with the IRS. Continued Ms. Davis, "This is important because
it means that donations and memberships will be deductible.
While what we do is often referred to as 'lobbying,' as in
National Gender Lobby Day, in fact, what we do mostly could
be referred to as advocacy--explaining the effect of laws on
this community, discussing public policy, mobilizing the
grassroots and promoting gender issues as matters of civil
rights."
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